Fire Touched

Fire Touched is the 9th book in Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson Series. I have been a long time reader of this series and Mercy is a character that always seems to come alive.

Fire Touched was much more action filled than many of the previous books in the Mercy Thompson series and moved at a quick and steady pace, but I just kept thinking WTF? Fire Touched just did not seem to keep true to who I always felt Mercy was and IS. Character growth in Urban Fantasy is something that this genre does phenomenally well and yet I just feel like Mercy is losing her stuff. Mercy grew up with the freakin Marrok. The dang Alpha of Alphas..the master at werewolf politics, so why did Mercy continue to not understand (until it was drawn in kindergarten crayons) how her actions affected everyone else. This just didnt fit at all. There is no way anyone could justify the level of ignorance Mercy displayed multiple times in Fire Touched.

Briggs , as always, does a brilliant job at creating vividly haunting new creatures, unforgettable characters and epic moments. The deeper look inside of the fae innerworkings was a great element in this installment and added a lot to the overall story. I am so conflicted! Part of me loved the action and world and the other part is weeping for why my favorite bad-ass mechanic is suddenly acting like an idiot. And this entire ex-wife thing with Christie has to stop. BOUNDARIES, I would think Mr. Military britches would get it.

As you can see, I am a little of two minds. My frustrations were high throughout Fire Touched, but this is still a world that could fill endless hours of conversations with fellow readers.

I rate Fire Touched 3 out of 5 Bullets!

I purchased this book (twice..technically) and also received this book directly from the publisher for the purpose of providing an honest review.

My Review:
I adore this series and this story started out with a great scene…a giant troll on the bridge that brings the pack and Mercy into the very public spotlight as they work together to defeat the troll…and eventually become heroes for humankind. Who knew they would eventually end up here? Mercy, as usual, rocks…and I adore that Adam finally, finally stood up for her and how the pack is treating her. Gah…I hate the way they continue to treat her as an outsider when she’s done so much for them. (I kind of love her.)

This story brought about some interesting changes for the pack and Mercy and Adam’s life. I have to say although I get it, I was shocked by Bran’s actions. 🙁 But Tad and Zee are back in this book and I love that. (This is a very fae-focused story…which isn’t my favorite, but I liked how things are evolving.)

There was also the change of an addition of a new character to Mercy and Adam’s world. I love Aiden and how he pulls Jesse into the story more. I also giggled every time there was a new fire at the house. Those scenes made me giggle every time…including the one that makes it into the next book (shh, yes, I immediately read the next book after I read “the end” on this one…even though that review won’t go up until the March release…but here’s a spoiler for you…I give it an A+).

I love this series and world. It just gets better and better. Love the Mercy Thompson world.

Another great Mercy Thompson book.
Once again Mercy and her mate Adam find themselves caught up in a squabble between supernaturals. This time, the Fae.
In a rush of adrenaline after a fight with a troll, Mercy and her trusty walking stick, make a statement proclaiming protection for those entering the packs territory.
As it turns out the first one in need of sanctuary is a young boy. Who looks human enough, but seems to be hiding some pretty big secrets as well.
This starts a long and drawn out trek into Fae politics. Necessary, but problematic on several fronts.
This story took us out of the pack, and threw us right in the middle of the Fae world. I liked finally getting some answers about what really goes on behind the scenes in the Fae realm. But the Fae do nothing without lots of protocol and rules.
I loved having Zee and Tad back. Zee in all his Fae glory is truly amazing, and truly frightening.
I love Aiden. He is unique as a character. The body of a ten year old boy, the experience and longevity of an ancient being. But having no clue how to deal with the modern world. His interactions with Jesse were hilarious.
I loved seeing the two new pack members, brought in in the last book, doing better. I think Aiden will be a huge help for Joel.
I loved Adam finally stepping up for Mercy with the pack. It was long over due.
I was not happy with Bran and what he did to the pack and to Mercy. I understand why he did it, but he had to know how it would affect Mercy.
Adams ex wife, she just needs to go away.
I will miss the walking stick. It has come to Mercys aid on more than one occasion, and in its own way been a comfort for her.
Overall a good book, not my favorite of the series but well worth reading.
On to the next book.

This is another excellent addition to the Mercy Thompson series. If you are new to it, you need to start with book one, Moon Called. If, like me, you’ve read every book in Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series, you know what to expect. This book begins with Mercy unsuccessfully trying to fend off the spiel of a multi-level marketing salesperson, then pits Mercy, Adam and friends against the Grey Lords who are after Tad, Zee and a young human named Aiden. Aiden is more than human because of untold time spent in Underhill, however. He is fire touched, extremely powerful, and almost feral. Mercy has granted him 24 hours protection, time to sort out how to deal with the Fae who sent a troll into the Tri Cities after him. Fae who may see the troll’s death as an act of war. Briggs once again balances fantasy, adventure, humor and suspense into a spellbinding book I didn’t want to put down. One I highly recommend.

You really need to have read the previous books in this series and in the associated Alpha and Omega series to understand all that is going on in this novel. The author has created a complex supernatural world with systems, laws and rules which are all relevant to the story and in this story she is dealing with events after the fae have withdrawn from the world as well as pack dynamics (Bran has to do something very drastic here). It is obvious that this book is only part of the whole story arc which the author is telling in both her series but it is a good and engaging story by itself – not just an urban fantasy with werewolves and the odd vampire but also with elements of Native American and other older mythologies.

Mercy and the pack attempt to protect someone who they see as vulnerable but others do not agree and soon they find themselves isolated and in great danger. The strength of the book is Mercy’s willingness to do what is right as well as the strong bond they have between them and the pack. It is good to see a stable relationship at the centre of an urban fantasy book and also to see that although Mercy may appear weak in comparison to the wolves she actually has considerable strength. As the books progress other members of the pack become stronger and more a part of the storyline as well Mercy’s friends and acquaintances.

It’s an excellent story and the author has really created a world which seems plausible – if, of course, the supernatural really did exist. This is because she is really writing about people (people who can become furry, of course) and about relationships and she never lets the intricacies of the world she has created get in the way of excellent storytelling.

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